The 49-year-old who won one international cap for Spain in 1994, has also coached the nation’s under-19, under-20 and under-21 teams and was most recently boss of Portugal’s FC Porto.

On that basis he has worked successfully with all the players who have graduated into the senior national team sphere.

Del Bosque took charge of the Spain national side in 2008 and guided them to victory at both the 2010 World Cup and the 2012 European Championship. He offered to resign after Spain’s exit at the group stage of the 2014 World Cup, but was convinced to stay.

At Euro 2016, Spain reached the last 16, but were eliminated after a 2-0 defeat by Italy, one of the few outstanding games of the tournament.

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